Billerica residents will dig deeper for burials (VIDEO)

BILLERICA -- As millions around the country visit cemeteries this Memorial Day weekend, Billerica residents will be digging deeper into their wallets for future cemetery fees.

As of July 1, residents will pay $400 more for a two-grave site with headstone privileges, the most common cemetery lot purchase in Billerica. This is almost a 37 percent increase, jumping up to $1,500 from the $1,100 fee set in 2008.

The Cemetery Commission approved the fee increase at its May 13 meeting. Frank Busalacchi, commission member, said this "fair and honest" fee jump reflects the increased cost of burials.

There have been salary increases for cemetery workers and they recently purchased new equipment, he said.

"We've been way under the average for years, and without a rate increase in five years, it was time to fine-tune the rate," Busalacchi said. "All of the costs add up, and when you fine-tune it, the town still subsidizes the burials."

The commission voted 2-1 on the $400 cemetery lot increase, with member Jim O'Donnell in opposition. He said increasing the rate by 37 percent does a "disservice to people in a time of need." He would have liked to increase the rate by 2.5 percent and review the fee again next year.

"I thought it was too extreme," O'Donnell said. "At a time when people are dealing with a loss, I just didn't think this was right.

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"We needed to increase the rate, but it should be fair and equitable," he added.

Before this fee increase, Billerica was well under the average for cemetery lot fees in the area. Busalacchi said the $1,500 fee brings the town up to average.

For a two-grave site, Lowell charges $1,300, Chelmsford costs $1,400, Bedford is $1,600, Acton costs $2,000 and Lexington charges $2,280, according to documents from the Billerica Department of Public Works.

"We're not in a business to make money," said DPW Director Abdul Alkhatib said. "Just trying to break even, so the increase reflects that."

Michael Haines, foreman for Billerica's DPW cemetery, parks and trees division, said the new equipment includes a $67,000 excavator, which replaces a 1985 John Deere. The town also bought a $65,000 dump truck to load all the funeral equipment, and the town spent $35,000 on John Deere lawnmowers.

He said the cemeteries weren't in the best shape three years ago, but now they're looking much better.

"The town administration has really helped us out funding-wise," Haines said. "It makes you feel good when you look out at the cemeteries and see the hard work you put into it."

But Billerica resident Mary Kelley said the lot increase is too much. Maybe $200 more for the lot would be reasonable but not $400, she said.

"I'm very fortunate we bought the lot 20 years ago, when prices were very reasonable," said Kelley, who was walking with her husband through the Fox Hill Cemetery paths on a gorgeous Monday afternoon. Their son was buried in 1993 at Fox Hill, and they walk through the cemetery once or twice a day.

"When you're a senior, it's hard to take an increase," she added. "We were lucky to buy it back then."

Her husband, Robert, said the fee increase might seem like a lot, but he added that Billerica is still at the average for cemetery fees. Increasing the cemetery price just goes along with car, house and fuel costs rising, he said.

"They do keep it really nice here, so the price is worth it," said Robert, who has lived in Billerica with Mary since 1973.

Fox Hill and North Cemetery are the only active cemeteries in Billerica, according to Haines. The town is running out of space and has about 17 acres left to develop at Fox Hill. Officials believe this expansion could happen in five years.

One potential way to save space is by placing headstones back-to-back, which is a "city strategy," Haines said. But he added that residents in the suburbs don't like that style.

"I'm glad we got our lot out here instead of the city," Mary said.

As far as Memorial Day weekend goes, Haines said that all are invited to help place American flags on graves at Fox Hill. The decorating begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

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